Heavyweight boxing's rising star Moses Itauma eyes title shot after knocking out Jermaine Franklin

MANCHESTER, England — Moses Itauma delivered another devastating knockout by sending Jermaine Franklin Jr.

MANCHESTER, England — Moses Itauma delivered another devastating knockout by sending Jermaine Franklin Jr. to the canvas with a powerful uppercut in the fifth round of their heavyweight fight on Saturday.

Itauma (14-0, 12 KOs), who could soon be in line for a world title shot, staggered Franklin in the center of the ring and the referee waved the fight off as the American fell face first.

Franklin, who went the distance with former two-time world champion Anthony Joshua three years ago, had been billed as Itauma’s toughest test yet.

The 21-year-old British southpaw had been dispatching opponents early — none of his previous nine opponents had made it through two rounds.

Moses Itauma celebrates victory with his title belts after defeating Jermaine Franklin Jr during the EBU European and WBO Inter-Continental Featherweight Titles fight.Alex Livesey / Getty ImagesFranklin (24-3, 15 KOs) was knocked down in the third and ultimately made it to midway through the fifth at Co-op Live Arena. After the uppercut, Itauma threw one final right that seemed to graze the falling Franklin.